The former Bishop of Gloucester, the Rt. Rev. Peter Ball has been arrested for child abuse.

On 14 Nov 2012 detectives from the Sussex Police serious crimes unit arrested the retired bishop at his home Manor Lodge in the Somerset village of Aller – a “grace and favour” property owned by the Duchy of Cornwall – and charged him with eight counts of abuse on boys aged 12 to their early 20’s committed approximately 25 years ago while Bishop Ball served as Bishop of Lewes in the Diocese of Chichester.

In 1993 Bishop Ball resigned after he was cautioned by the police for having committed an act of gross indecency against a teenager. The now 80 year old bishop was licensed to officiate at church services following his resignation, but has not had the license renewed since 2010.